From June 5 to June 7, the Armenian Church community in Belgium was blessed to hold its Armenian Camp at Hopper Jeugdverblijf Merkenveld, Zedelgem, Belgium. This joyful and grace-filled gathering brought together approximately 120 children, alongside 43 clergy, animators, teachers, and kitchen volunteers, for three days marked by prayer, learning, friendship, sports activities hand shared spiritual joy.

The camp was organized under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate of Western Europe, and under the guidance of the spiritual leaders of the Armenian Church committees of Belgium: the Very Reverend Fathers Zadik Avedikian, Tirayr Hagopyan, and Maghakia Beskisizian.

Throughout these days, the children and youth were offered a precious opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the Christian faith, to rediscover the richness of Armenian literature, and to experience the beauty of Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage through various activities, songs, and dances. Under the loving care and guidance of clergy, teachers, and animators, the camp became a place where faith was nurtured, friendships were formed, and joyful memories were created.

Set amid the serenity and beauty of nature, the gathering also became a living expression of unity, bringing together participants from different parishes and allowing them to form strong bonds of fellowship and communion within the life of the Armenian Church in Belgium.

The camp concluded on Sunday morning with the celebration of the Holy Badarak, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. Offered outdoors in the midst of God’s beautiful creation, the sacred liturgy was enriched by the gentle sounds of nature and the sublime hymns of the Armenian Church, creating an atmosphere of profound prayer and thanksgiving.

The children and youth participated prayerfully in the Badarak and received Holy Communion, the greatest sign of their unity with our Lord Jesus Christ and with one another in the life of the Church. In his paternal message to the young participants, Archbishop Khajag reminded them of our Lord’s great love for children, recalling the words of the Gospel: “Let the little children come to Me.” He affirmed that Christ rejoices to see them gathered in faith, love, and harmony.

This blessed camp stands as a beautiful testimony to the living faith of the Armenian Church community in Belgium. It offered its young participants not only days of joy and companionship, but also a deepened sense of spiritual belonging, cultural identity, and ecclesial unity that, by God’s grace, will continue to bear fruit in their lives.

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